This 5-step checklist turns aspiring writers into professionals

Just follow along, {NAME}… [The Writer’ s Life]( August 3, 2023 "The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing." – Steve Jobs Hi {NAME}, Every day we feature stories and posts from AWAI members who are successfully making money as a writer … Writers who launched their writing businesses and are now reaping the benefits of taking that first step. If you've yet to launch yours, this issue is for you … Today, I'm going to walk through a five-step checklist you can follow to position yourself as a professional, so you can start making money too. Now, if you could use some help getting your writing business up and running … All you have to do is [click here and say "Yes!"]( My team and I will take you by the hand on Monday during our wildly successful Writer's Launch Party and lead you through the five steps outlined below. Each day, you'll do the simple exercise we give you. And attend an optional training session with some of our coaches. And by Friday of next week, you'll be officially launched. We've been doing this for the past three years, and the results have been AMAZING … [>> You can see for yourself here.]( But whether you do it with our help, or you choose to do it on your own, let's walk through the steps … Step 1: Update Your Mindset Do YOU think of yourself as a professional? If not, it's time to shift gears. As we discussed yesterday, you already have proof of some kind of expertise. Whether it's a formal certification, life experience, or personal knowledge, you're already an expert in at least one subject. And, more than likely, in many different subjects. In addition, you can assemble some proof of your writing skills fairly quickly (as we'll detail in the next section). So, what more do you need to start calling yourself a professional? The only thing missing — if you don't have one yet — is a paying client. But if you follow the steps we're laying out here, it's only a matter of time until you receive your first paycheck. Consider another professional for a moment, such as a dentist. Once they finish their formal dentist training and start their professional practice, they don't announce to potential patients that they're new and practicing dentistry for the first time. Instead, there's a point where they have to start viewing themselves as a full-fledged, professional dentist. They learned the skills they need to be a dentist during their training, and they are now ready to start taking on patients. It's no different with writing. You already have the skills to start writing professionally. Yes, you will improve your skills over time. But you know enough now to start calling yourself a professional and getting paid to write. Step 2: Update Your LinkedIn Profile Of all the ways you can find potential clients, we've seen more AWAI members have success by using LinkedIn than any other method. LinkedIn is a respected platform where professionals from nearly all industries can connect with each other. You can easily set up a profile for yourself on LinkedIn for free. Or if you already have a profile, consider giving it a tune-up. ([We have an easy-to-follow training here.]() The best part about LinkedIn is that it's so easy to start using. You don't need to set up your own website or handle any "tech" details. Simply enter your basic information on LinkedIn, and you're ready to start connecting with potential clients. (Scared to make those all-important client connections? Check out our [Get Writing Clients NOW: 21-Day System]( for a proven method that will have you connecting with clients — guaranteed.) Step 3: Create Business Materials You can easily present yourself as a professional in all the business materials you use to promote yourself. Make sure your email signature and business cards state that you're a professional writer, and include a link to your writer's website or LinkedIn profile. And start gathering or creating some writing samples for a professional portfolio of your work. Now, this doesn't have to be difficult … You are a writer, after all. There's a good chance you already have some writing samples you can use. To start with, your LinkedIn profile or writer's website are living samples of your writing. You can also try any or all of these approaches to build a portfolio of writing samples: - Use writing projects you've completed as part of writing courses. For example, AWAI's writing courses all include writing assignments in some form, where you get to practice the skills being taught in the course. Any of these completed projects can be used as samples. - Gather writing samples you've done previously for professional or volunteer work. - Offer to write a project for free for someone you know. This gives them something they can use, and you get a writing sample — a win-win for both of you. - If you know the types of clients you'll be targeting, write some samples appropriate for them. For example, if you're going to be looking for clients who are massage therapists, write an e-newsletter or some sample articles that relate to massage therapy. Your samples don't have to be elaborate. But they do have to show you can write what your potential clients need. For more suggestions on building a portfolio, check out our free webinar [How to Create a Winning Portfolio of Samples If You're Just Starting a Freelance Writing Career](. Step 4: Prepare for Conversations with Clients One of the best ways to prepare for a conversation with a potential client is to arm yourself with knowledge. Keep in mind that you may not actually speak to a potential client. Your first interactions may all be through email, but the process will be the same nonetheless. First, if you're approaching businesses in a certain niche or industry, learn all you can about that industry. Visit the websites of related professional associations and see what topics are being discussed. Read trade journals and magazines. And speak to people in the field by getting involved in relevant social media or in-person groups. Also, take note of the types of writing projects companies in your desired niche are using. You can find this out by visiting the websites of businesses you might be interested in working with. It's also helpful to sign up for their email lists and read what they send you. Getting familiar with your target industry will help you speak their language when it comes time to talk to potential clients. Another important way to prepare is to get organized and set up some professional templates you can use, such as templates for the following: - Invoices - Project proposals - Project terms of agreement - New prospect intake checklists - Creative briefs - Fee schedule You can prepare these templates on your own or save yourself time by getting AWAI's [Essential Templates for Your Copywriting Business](, which provides fully editable and ready-to-use templates for nearly all business situations you'll encounter. If you have these ready before speaking to a potential client, you'll be able to answer with confidence when they ask what your fees are or if you can submit a project proposal. And if you need any help determining your fees, simply refer to [AWAI's Copywriting Pricing Guide](. You can see which of the 80 projects listed in the guide you're most likely to be working on and make a short reference sheet for yourself to have ready. But the biggest thing to keep in mind is that when you're talking to a potential client, you're simply having a conversation. Be yourself and ask honest questions about the person you're talking to and their organization. Try to find out how you can help them and their business. You'll quickly find that the conversation won't be about you or your experience (or lack thereof) … Instead, you'll be focused on sharing your ideas and on how you could work with them to meet their business goals. For more tips on preparing for your first conversations with clients, have a look at our free webinar [A Potential Writing Client Contacted Me. Now What?!?](. Step 5: Write — Every Single Day! There's no better way to learn the craft of writing than by actually doing it. Although it's great to say you should write every day, many writers ask us, "What should I write?" If you're stuck for ideas of what to write each day, try writing any of the following: - Samples for your portfolio, such as e-newsletters, emails, or other projects you'd like to find paying work for. - Copy for your website. - Blog posts or articles related to your niche. - Comments on social media platforms, either on your page or on someone else's page. Another great way to start generating ideas for what to write about is to read or listen to audiobooks about writing, personal achievement, or any other topic that interests you. Exposing yourself to lots of different written material can often inspire some of your own big ideas. And when you get those ideas — write them down! Final Thoughts on Being a Professional Writer Positioning yourself as a professional writer from the beginning can help you establish and grow your writing career much faster. Potential clients will be able to see you as the professional you are, who can help move their business forward. And they'll be willing to pay you professional fees to do it. Presenting yourself as a professional isn't difficult. All it takes is an understanding of what clients expect from professional writers and proving that you have what it takes to do the job. If you're ready to start your career as a well-paid copywriter, consider participating in our next [Writer's Launch Party](. The "Party" is a five-day, live training event where we take you through practical, daily steps to become a professional writer, from setting up your LinkedIn profile to connecting with potential clients and beyond. We'll be there to help you every step of the way … Including a celebration next Friday when you're officially up and running. [>> Go here now to RSVP.]( To your success, Rebecca Matter President AWAI YOU a Professional Writer in Just 5 Days! Our proven system speeds you past any roadblocks and get you up and running as a writer … With the confidence, skills, and polish to take on your first clients and get paid … In just five days … GUARANTEED! [See How We'll Do It]( What's Hot at AWAI … ☀️ One of the BEST ways to have a successful day? [Start with your morning routine!]( 🧐 [Join AWAI's Launch Party for just $49 today!]( 😄 We love seeing our members succeed! [Check out their success stories]( if you need a little inspiration to get started. 😍 [Ad exec breaks out of 9-to-5 "Prison.]( 🙌 Ex-college student thrives as full-time writer, earns $5,000 paycheck and 10K scholarship, all thanks to first-ever Bootcamp! [Read her story here.]( TWO Big Wins! [AWAI COS member sharing about two client-getting wins for their marketing agency] Congratulations on your two big client wins, Daniel! It's exciting to see your writing business go from win to win. Can't wait to see what's in store for you next! 🎉 (Note: If you want someone to lead you through the key steps to getting started, [go here]( for more details and discover how we help aspiring writers get their writing career started in just five days.) Have your own story to share? Email us at mysuccess@awai.com, or [post it over in the Facebook group](, so we can celebrate your win too! Featured Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter — The Sage Group Contractor, The Sage Group (Bay Area) Create content for appropriate channels, matching business objectives to creative content for a variety of channels, including websites, social media, print, video, and presentations. --------------------------------------------------------------- Freelance Copywriter — 24 Seven Talent Contractor, Boston, MA Write clear, concise, and engaging copy for various digital marketing channels, including websites, email campaigns, social media ads, product descriptions, and more. --------------------------------------------------------------- Content Writer — Facebook Contractor, New York, NY This is primarily a writing role. Excellent writing and copy editing are required to perform the basic tasks of the job. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. For questions or requests: [contact us online](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ©2023 American Writers & Artists Institute Do you know of someone who would benefit from reading The Writer's Life? Simply direct them [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- American Writers & Artists Institute 220 George Bush Blvd, Suite D Delray Beach, FL 33444 (561) 278-5557 or (866) 879-2924 Ensure your subscription delivery. AWAI Whitelisting info available [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to this newsletter as {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe from any future issues of The Writer's Life, please click here: [Unsubscribe from The Writer's Life](. To unsubscribe from all AWAI broadcasts click here. [I want to permanently unsubscribe from all AWAI emails](.